Trade Dress Defendant Loses Bid For New Trial In Washington Federal Court
SEATTLE - In a Feb. 14 ruling, a Washington federal magistrate judge largely rejected efforts by a defendant to undo a December jury verdict of trade dress infringement, denying a request for a new trial but conditioning that denial upon a plaintiff's acceptance of a remittitur that would reduce damages in the case from $193,598 to $167,239 (National Products Inc. v. Arkon Resources Inc., No. 15-1553, W.D. Wash., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24436).

Federal Judge Enjoins Franchisee From Using IHOP Marks At 3 Restaurants
MOBILE, Ala. - An Alabama federal judge on Feb. 7 granted a motion by IHOP Restaurants LLC and IHOP Franchisor LLC for a preliminary injunction enjoining a franchisee from using its mark or any trademark that is confusingly similar to the IHOP mark at restaurants (IHOP Restaurants LLC, et al. v. Moeini Corp., No. 17-00570, S.D. Ala., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19707).

Missouri Federal Judge Dismisses Service Mark Claims By Karaoke Company
ST. LOUIS - Allegations of service mark infringement against four defendants were dismissed by a Missouri federal judge on Jan. 23, based upon findings that a karaoke licensing company is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its claims (Phoenix Entertainment Partners LLC v. Sports Legends LLC, et al., No. 17-1209, E.D. Mo., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10381).

'Sealtight' Trademark Holder Tells 8th Circuit It Deserves Disgorgement Of Profits
ST. LOUIS - A fastener manufacturer argues in a Jan. 30 brief in the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals that an infringement verdict in its favor related to its "Sealtight" trademark should have resulted in an award of disgorgement of the infringer's profits, saying that the trial court improperly balanced the parties' equities in denying the award (B&B Hardware Inc. v. Hargis Industries Inc., No. 17-1570 and 17-1755, 8th Cir.).

2nd Circuit Cites Matal In Dispute Over Denied Food Truck Application
NEW YORK - In a Jan. 3 ruling, the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals deemed repeated denials by the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) of an application by Wandering Dago (WD) Inc. to participate in the state's Summer Outdoor Lunch Program unconstitutional (Wandering Dago Inc. v. New York State Office of General Services, et al., No. 16-622, 2nd Cir., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 87).

Nebraska Federal Judge Won't Retransfer Trademark Claims To Texas
OMAHA, Neb. - A request by a trademark owner to retransfer infringement allegations to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas was denied Jan. 16 by a Nebraska federal judge, who found that the plaintiff failed to show that a previously severed defendant is indispensable to the Texas action (Buc-ee's Ltd. v. Buck's Inc., et al., No. 17-287, D. Neb., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6619).

Judge Transfers Noninfringement, UCL Action Against Harley To Wisconsin
MILWAUKEE - A California federal judge on Jan. 11 transferred an aftermarket motorcycle part company's action in which it seeks a declaration of noninfringement and asserts a claim for violation of California's unfair competition law (UCL) against a motorcycle maker to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, noting that an underlying cease-and-desist letter originated in Wisconsin (Cobra Engineering Inc. v. H-D USA Llc, et al., No. 2:18cv71, E.D. Wis.).

9th Circuit Affirms: No Case Or Controversy In Trademark Dispute
SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge did not err in dismissing a declaratory judgment action over the "Merit" trademark, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Jan. 4, because the plaintiff in the case failed to establish the existence of an actual controversy as required by the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. 2201 (Merit Healthcare International Inc. v. Merit Medical Systems Inc., No. 16-55290, 9th Cir., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 246).

11th Circuit Affirms: Former Member Has No Right To 'Commodores' Mark
ATLANTA - The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Jan. 9 found that when Thomas McClary departed the Grammy Award-winning band The Commodores in 1984, he forfeited his common-law rights to use and profit from "The Commodores" trademark (Commodores Entertainment Corporation v. Thomas McClary, et al., No. 16-15794, 11th Cir., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 518).

Divided 1st Circuit Limits Trademark Licensee To Prepetition Damages
BOSTON - In what it deemed a case of first impression, a divided First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Jan. 12 found that a trademark licensee retains only the right to seek prepetition damages following a Chapter 11 debtor-in-possession's rejection of the underlying license agreement (Mission Product Holdings Inc. v. Tempnology LLC, No. 16-9016, 1st Cir., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 870).

Judge Denies GoDaddy's Request For Restraining Order In Infringement, UCL Case
OAKLAND, Calif. - A California federal judge on Dec. 20 denied a request by GoDaddy Operating Co. LLC, which asserts causes of action for trademark infringement and violation of California's unfair competition law (UCL) against a graphics company and others, for a temporary restraining order, finding that the issue would be better decided on fully-briefed motions for an injunction rather than a temporary restraining order (GoDaddy Operating Company, LLC v. Usman Ghaznavi, et al., No. 17-cv-6545, N.D. Calif., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 209386).

Boston Band Founder Argues Contract Breach From Ex-Member's Trademark Use
BOSTON - In a Dec. 29 brief to the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Tom Scholz, who founded the multiplatinum-selling rock band Boston, argues that a former band member's use of the "Boston" trademark to promote his post-Boston musical endeavors breached a previous settlement agreement between them (David Thomas Scholz v. Barry Goudreau, No. 17-1264, 1st Cir.).

11th Circuit Briefed On Trademark Rights For Karaoke Tracks
ATLANTA - In briefs filed with the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, a karaoke track producer and a karaoke service operator recently debated whether a likelihood of confusion can arise from the operator's use of purportedly pirated karaoke tracks that display the producer's trademarks (Phoenix Entertainment Partners LLC v. Kevin Burke, No. 17-13043, 11th Cir.).

Former Jack In The Box Franchisee Appeals Contract Trademark Judgment
SAN FRANCISCO - Arguing that disputed facts exist on a purported cure agreement and the amounts owed to franchisor Jack in the Box Inc. (JIB), a terminated franchisee tells the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in a Dec. 19 reply brief that a trial court wrongly issued judgment against it on trademark infringement and contract claims (Jack in the Box Inc. v. Deepak Mehta, et al., No. 17-15336, 9th Cir.).

Festival Host To 9th Circuit: 'Life Is Beautiful' Marks Were Fraudulently Obtained
SAN FRANCISCO - The organizer of the annual "Life is Beautiful" festival tells the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in a Jan. 5 brief that an artist's trademark claims related to that phrase were properly dismissed due to unclean hands and a failure to use the asserted marks in commerce (Amusement Art LLC v. Life is Beautiful LLC, et al., No. 17-55045, 9th Cir.).

Federal Circuit Affirms Denial Of Registrations For 'Magnesita' Trademarks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to deny two trademark registration applications for "Magnesita" on grounds that the marks are generic for refractory products was not erroneous, the Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals concluded Nov. 27 (In re: Magnesita Refractories Company, No. 16-2345, Fed. Cir., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 23845).

9th Circuit Affirms: Use Of 'Empire' Mark Protected By 1st Amendment
SAN FRANCISCO - Two broadcasters were properly granted a summary judgment that their use of the name "Empire" is protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 16 (Twentieth Century Fox Television, et al. v. Empire Distribution Inc., No. 16-55577, 9th Cir.).

Copyright Plaintiff Partly Prevails In Dispute Over Streaming TV Content
MIAMI - A Florida federal judge on Dec. 11 entered summary judgment on behalf of a producer of Colombian television and its distributor, amid allegations that a defendant created a website to stream the plaintiffs' copyrighted content in the United States without permission (Caracol Television S.A., et al. v. TVmiaInternational Corp., et al., No. 16-23486, S.D. Fla., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 204575).

Copyright, Trademark Claims Survive Dismissal Request In Illinois Court
CHICAGO - Efforts by two defendants to obtain dismissal of allegations they committed copyright and trademark infringement by copying and exhibiting photographs by the late Vivian Maier were unsuccessful on Nov. 20, when an Illinois federal judge deemed claims by a public administrator appointed to Maier's estate upon her death in 2009 adequately pleaded (The Estate of Vivian Maier v. Jeffrey Goldstein, et al., No. 17-2951, N.D. Ill., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 191294).

Trademark Dispute Over Literacy Program Survives Dismissal Request In Texas
DALLAS - Efforts by a defendant to obtain dismissal of trademark infringement allegations stemming from the use of - among other things - a million-dollar bill bookmark in connection with a literacy program were unsuccessful on Dec. 5, when a Texas federal judge denied the request (Springboards to Education v. Demco Inc., et al., No. 16-2398, N.D. Texas).

9th Circuit Affirms: Subaru Did Not Infringe Copyright, Trademarks
SAN FRANCISCO - In a Dec. 12 ruling decided without oral argument, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a California federal judge's dismissal of copyright and trademark infringement allegations stemming from Subaru of America Inc.'s use of "Share the Love" as a slogan in television advertisements (Marilyn Mintz v. Subaru of America Inc., No. 16-3384, 9th Cir.).

Indiana Magistrate Judge Denies Wal-Mart Request To Transfer Trademark Case
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Efforts by Wal-Mart.com USA LLC and a co-defendant to move allegations of trademark infringement to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California were unsuccessful Dec. 6, when an Indiana federal magistrate judge found that "the only factor that narrowly favors transfer is convenience of the third-party Chinese witnesses" (Dwyer Instruments Inc. v. Wal-Mart.com USA LLC, et al., No. 17-636, N.D. Ind., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 200566).

Furniture Maker Seeks High Court Review Of Tea Rose- Rectanus Doctrine Ruling
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling deepened a circuit split on the interpretation of good faith adoption of a regional, common-law trademark under the Tea Rose-Rectanus doctrine, a furniture manufacturer argues in a Nov. 13 petition for certiorari, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to provide guidance on the matter (Omnia Italian Design Inc. v. Stone Creek Inc., No. 17-731, U.S. Sup.).

Fastener Maker Tells 8th Circuit Fraud, Mark Lapse Defeat Infringement Claims
ST. LOUIS - In a Nov. 20 appellee brief, the defendant in a long-running dispute over the "Sealtight" and "Sealtite" trademarks asks the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to affirm a trial court's judgment in its favor, citing its opponent's fraud on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), as well as a lapse in the plaintiff's registration for its purportedly incontestable trademark (B&B Hardware Inc. v. Hargis Industries Inc., No. 17-1570 and 17-1755, 8th Cir.).

Cosmetics Firm Asserts Its Right To Injunction In 'Lush' Trademark Dispute
SAN FRANCISCO - A trial court erred in denying its motion for injunctive relief despite a jury's finding that its "Lush" trademark was infringed, a cosmetics firm tells the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in a Dec. 8 reply brief, arguing that it presented evidence of harm and unclean hands (Pinkette Clothing Inc. v. Cosmetic Warriors Limited, No. 17-55325, 9th Cir.).

Restaurant Software Firm Appeals Cancellation Of 'Reserve' Marks To 9th Circuit
SAN FRANCISCO - Arguing that its trademarks incorporating the word "Reserve" have achieved secondary meaning and are entitled to a presumption of validity, a provider of restaurant management software tells the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in an Oct. 19 brief that a trial court erred in ordering cancellation of two of its marks and in granting judgment to an infringing competitor (Reserve Media Inc. v. Efficient Frontiers Inc., No. 17-55687, 9th Cir.).